August 26, 2014

Highlighted Year: Ashley Ambrose, 1996

Cornerback, Cincinnati
Bengals

Age: 26
(Sept. 17)

5th
season in pro football, 1st with Bengals

College: Mississippi
Valley State

Height: 5’10” Weight: 192

Prelude:

Ambrose was
chosen by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the 1992 NFL draft.
While he displayed talent on coverage, he was also inconsistent and failed to
live up to expectations. He intercepted five passes, all in his last two years
in Indianapolis, and had a good postseason as Indianapolis advanced to the AFC
Championship game in 1995. Ambrose moved on to the Bengals as a free agent for
‘96.

1996 Season Summary

Appeared in
all 16 games

[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions
– 8 [3]

Most
interceptions, game – 2 at San Diego 9/8

Int. return
yards – 63

Most int.
return yards, game – 31 (on 1 int.) at Buffalo 11/17

Int. TDs – 1 [4,
tied with many]

Sacks – 0

Fumble
recoveries – 0

Forced
fumbles – 1

Tackles – 44

Assists – 6

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Awards &
Honors:

1st
team All-NFL: AP

1st
team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Bengals went 8-8
to finish third in the AFC Central and led the NFL with 34 interceptions.

Aftermath:

Ambrose
followed up his breakout year with another solid effort in 1997, but problems
at the other cornerback position combined with a deficient pass rush made it
more challenging. After three years in Cincinnati, he moved on to the Saints in
’99 and then signed with Atlanta in 2000, where he combined with Ray Buchanan
to create a fine cornerback tandem. Making up for diminishing speed with savvy,
Ambrose spent three seasons with the Falcons before returning to New Orleans in
2003 for his final two years (he signed with the Chiefs in 2005, but was
released prior to the regular season). Over the course of 13 seasons, Ambrose
intercepted 42 passes, three of which he returned for touchdowns. He overcame a
slow start with the Colts to become a good, if not spectacular, NFL cornerback and 1996 remained the only season in which he received All-NFL and Pro Bowl recognition.
Afterward, Ambrose went on to become an assistant coach at the college level.

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Highlighted Years features players who were first-team
All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following
statistical categories: